38th Settlement.—

MUKAMUKA, PA-RANGARAHU, AND ORONGORONGO.

Three small fishing villages belonging to Kai-wara, Pitone, and Pipitea, on the coast between Wairarapa and Wellington, are occasionally visited by Natives from those Pas, who are included in the census taken of those Settlements, with Report and Table for the Wellington District. I should not omit to mention that attached to Parangarahu and Orongorongo are two large and valuable Reserves made over to the Natives as an equivalent for, and in consideration of their having given up the spots of ground guaranteed to them under an arrangement made by Captain Fitzroy, generally known as the exception of “Pas and Cultivations.” The boundaries of many of the latter were undefined, and a great part of them were afterwards found to be situated in the middle, or forming some portion of valuable Town and country Sections, and from their irregular size, tended to make those sections of comparatively little value to the European proprietors. It was moreover a cause of constant irritation and dispute between the two Races, owing to a great measure in the different modes of culture pursued by each other on the same section. The Natives but partially clearing the land for crops, and indiscriminately cutting down the timber, while the Settlers preferred a more regular and uniform system, preserving such of the fine timber as might be of use, or serve as ornament and shelter to their homesteads hereafter. These irregular Native plantations were scattered throughout the entire district of Wellington, and therefore more or less interfered with many of the valuable sections of the Europeans. I believe it primarily to have been the cause of the disturbances on the Hutt. To remove these very great difficulties, was one of Sir George Grey’s first acts, and under the superintendence of Lieutenant-Col. M’Cleverty, arrangements were entered into with the Native proprietors in the shape of exchanges for land of an equivalent value elsewhere, in separate Blocks, and after some months’ negotiation, were finally concluded to the satisfaction of all parties; the Blocks so set apart for the Natives have been surveyed and duly registered; the Natives hold copies of the original plans, and a question involving no little trouble and annoyance finally set at rest: The Blocks or reserves at Parangarahu and Orongorongo, within a short distance of the Beacon at the heads, are now, and have been for some time past, let by the Native owners as Cattle and Sheep Runs to Europeans at very fair annual rents, and as these arrangements are now made with a much better understanding than they formerly were, (the runs being clearly defined) there is a mutual benefit: The contractors have their fat cattle within a short distance of town, and the Natives derive an annual and almost certain income from the rents of land which would probably otherwise lie unoccupied.

The system of leasing throughout the Wairarapa from the Natives without the sanction of the Government, is a subject upon which I have already informed the Government as to its results; It is therefore perhaps needless for me to do more than to observe that the practice of leasing on those terms, is being extended, and not unlikely to prove a greater obstacle than it has already been to the acquisition of that district.

The high road to Hawke’s Bay is through the Wairarapa, and along the coast. Besides this there is another road which strikes up the valley from the Lake to the Kaikokirikiri, and from thence in a nearly straight line through the forest to Castle Point or Rangiwhakaoma, and is, I believe, the shortest of the two. One or two Policemen, might, I think, be very usefully stationed at Castle Point, where any deserters to the Hawke’s Bay might be easily intercepted, and from whence such early information might be given to the Natives further up the coast as would almost prevent the possibility of an escape. A small vessel may anchor under Castle Point.

In conclusion, I beg leave to make a few additional remarks with regard to the census and other Memoranda. During nearly 5 months that I have been employed in collecting the particulars for the Returns, I have been uniformly treated with kindness and civility by the Natives, and in those districts within the neighbourhood of Port Nicholson, Waikanae, Otaki, and the lower part of the Manawatu, the Natives offered very little objection to my taking their numbers—but in the more remote, and especially the unpurchased districts, a strong disinclination to my doing so prevailed. By securing, however, the assistance of one or two of the intelligent young men at the stations, (sometimes at the risk of incurring the ill will of the tribe) I was enabled to complete the particulars required by His Excellency. In the unpurchased districts, the Natives believe that by obtaining an accurate account of their numbers (which if small in proportion to the land claimed) Government would acquire it upon whatsoever terms they might think proper. The gentlemen of the different Missionary Societies can, I believe, by a reference to their registers, furnish a correct Return (if such were required at any future time) without exciting the suspicions of the Natives or rendering the interference of Government disagreeable to their feelings. Another difficulty in connection with the Maori Census is this, that the Natives are scarcely for many months together stationary; and so with regard to their cultivations; it frequently happens that the same individual has cultivations in two or three different parts of the country as his inclination guides him, or the locality is good. The Returns which have been compiled may, however, be considered as a very close approximation, and I trust will be found interesting to His Excellency, more especially those items which show that the Natives are becoming possessed of useful and valuable English property, such as cattle, horses, and sheep, &c., as well as increasing in general wealth, tending not only to their own prosperity and comfort, but also to the prosperity of the country at large.

The Road by the coast from the Wairarapa into Town is one of the worst I have ever travelled, and in many parts exceedingly dangerous: Subject to the influence of the Tides, which, during south-easterly gales are generally very high, herds of cattle are frequently detained for two or three days at a time on their journey to and fro, with scarcely a blade of grass, to the no small annoyance of the drivers, and inconvenience to other travellers between the two places: the want of a safe flat-bottomed boat has long been felt at the mouth of the lake; where only a small canoe is now kept; and as the attendance of the natives on the spot is very irregular, and as they are moreover incapable of managing a boat in a strong tide rip, I think they should be required to give up the Ferry into the hands of a trustworthy European, at least until the new road is made available; an effort has already been made to place a European in charge, but the natives have invariably objected to this being done.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your most obedient humble servant,

H. TACKY KEMP.

The Honorable,
The Colonial Secretary, New Munster.

For further particulars in reference to the foregoing Report, vide Table No. 4, annexed.